Voting systems

• Referendums

  • AV referendum-granted under coalition gov, many argued it would cost too much money
  • Scottish referendum 2017-on yes side - SNP, Scottish Green Party, Better together supported by main pantes
  • Brexit 2016 Referendum
• AV referendum


  • Argued it would cost too much money
  • To win for keeping system same - 67.9% same, 32.1% change
  • Voter turnout 42.2%
• Scottish referendum 2017

  • Stay part of UK 55.3%, Leave 44.7%
  • 84% turnout and 16-17 year olds could vote
• Brexit 2016 Referendum

  • Remain side - Labour, Lib Dem, Green
  • Leave side -some cons
  • Narrow win for leave - 51.89%, 48.11% remain
  • Turnout 72%
  • Caused Cameron to resign + May succeeded him
  • Get Brexit done Boris' slogan
  • Reignited calls for Scottish Independence
  • Issues over Northern Irish border
• Additional Member System

  • Two ballot papers and votes (one for constituency rep-done in form of FPTP, and regional rep-done using proportional representation)
  • One constituency rep and multiple regional reps
  • Used for Welsh Assembly, Scottish Parliament and Greater London Assembly
• Additional Member System

  POSITIVES

  • Top-up element introduces PR, acting as correction to FPTP
  • FPTP element maintains strong link between member and constituency
  • Voters have wider choice than under straight FPTP

  NEGATIVES

  • Creates two different types of member
  • Smaller parties achieve less rep than PR system
  • Closed List system is used, meaning, party leadership ranks candidates in order on the list-it can use this power to limit chances of dissident members of party being elected
• Single Transferable Vote System

  • Uses multi-member constituencies
  • Voters number their choices preferentially
  • In order to be elected, a candidate needs to achieve a quota
  • Results are calculated using a complex counting process that takes into account voters' second preferences
• Supplementary Vote System


  • Best to elect more one individual eg Mayor or PCC
  • Get first and second preference
  • Have to get majority
  • If they don't get a majority, all candidates but top two are eliminated
  • Second preference votes of these candidates are added to produce overall winner
• Supplementary Vote System

  POSITIVES:

  • Ensures broad support for winner
  • Simple and straightforward to use
  • It allowed some independent candidates to win

  NEGATIVES:

  • Not proportional as one individual is being elected to a single office
  • The winner doesn't need to get an absolute majority of votes cast in order to have influence over the outcome, & winner often compromise
• First Past The Post

  • Country divided into 650 constituencies of roughly equal size
  • Each constituency elects one Member of Parliament
  • Voters choose from a list of candidates and candidate who receives most votes wins
  • Distribution of seats isn't proportional to support of parties
• First Past The Post

  POSITIVES:

  • Fast and simple
  • Creates strong and stable government-two party system
  • Excludes extremists
  • Strong link between MP and constituents

  NEGATIVES:

  • Can be elected on less than 50% of votes
  • Rarely produces government elected on majority of popular vote
  • Lack of proportionality
  • Limited voter choice
  • Votes of unequal value-in small constituency a vote usually counts for more than in a larger one
• Effects of Voting Systems on type of Government


  • FPTP-third parties under represented, favours main two parties as they can command broad support across country
  • STV- coalitions more likely eg Northern Ireland
  • AMS-Safe seats are kept, parties have large influence over who is elected in proportional part of systems, coalitions are likely, smaller parties can still gain seats due to top up seats
  • SV-Smaller parties may be disregarded but does give strong winner with majority
• Referendums

  POSITIVES:

  • Allows direct involvement of public
  • Keeps check on government and allows public to prevent unpopular decisions
  • Can settle arguments and ensures that reforms have wide support
  • Raises voters' political awareness and increases political engagement

  NEGATIVES:

  • Reduces complex decisions to yes or no answer
  • Campaigns can be misleading (Brexit + NHS)
  • Only parliament can call a referendum so usually only happens when government believes it can win
• Single Transferable Vote


  POSITIVES

  -closer correlation between votes and seats

  -voter choice is high

  -no tactical voting

  -not stuck with the parties favourite

  -independent candidates have a chance of winning

  NEGATIVES

  -not fully proportional

  -might no longer have one representative

  -power sharing gov may bring rival groups

  -large multi member constituencies, the link between member and voters may be weak